The First Consul, taking a superior view of the state of France, considered that the re-establishment of religious worship would prove a powerful support to his Government:  and he had been occupied ever since the commencement of 1801 in preparing a Concordat with the Pope.  It was signed in the month of July in the same year.  It required some time to enable the parties to come to an understanding on the subject.

Cardinal Consalvi arrived, in the month of June 1801, at Paris, to arrange matters on the part of the Pope.  Cardinal Caprara and M. de Spina also formed part of the embassy sent by the Holy Father.  There were, besides, several able theologians, among whom Doctor C——­ was distinguished.

—­[The “Doctor C——­” was Caselti, later Archbishop of Parma.  Bonier was green the Bishopric of Orleans, not Versailles; see Erreurs, tome i, p. 276.  The details of the surprise attempted at the last moment by putting before Cardinal Consalvi for his signature an altered copy of the Concordat should be read in his Memoirs (tome i. p. 355), or in Lanfrey (tome ii. p. 267).  As for Napoleon’s belief that part of the nation might become Protestant, Narbonne probably put the matter truly when he said there was not religion enough in France to stand a division.  It should be noted that the Concordat did not so much restore the Catholic Church as destroy the old Gallican Church, with all its liberties, which might annoy either Pope or Emperor.  But on this point see The Gallican Church and the Revolution, by Jervis:  London, Began Paul, Trench and Co., 1882.  The clergy may, it is true, have shown wisdom in acceding to any terms of restoration.]—­

He was a member of the Pope’s chancery; his knowledge gave him so much influence over his colleagues that affairs advanced only as much as he pleased.  However, he was gained over by honours conferred on him, and promises of money.  Business then went on a little quicker.  The Concordat was signed on the 15th of July 1801, and made a law of the State in the following April.  The plenipotentiaries on the part of Bonaparte were Joseph Bonaparte, Cretet, and the Abby Bernier, afterwards Bishop of Versailles.—­[Orleans not Versailles.  D.W.]

A solemn Te Deum was chanted at the cathedral of Notre Dame on Sunday, the 11th of April.  The crowd was immense, and the greater part of those present stood during the ceremony, which was splendid in the extreme; but who would presume to say that the general feeling was in harmony with all this pomp?  Was, then, the time for this innovation not yet arrived?  Was it too abrupt a transition from the habits of the twelve preceding years?  It is unquestionably true that a great number of the persons present at the ceremony expressed, in their countenances and gestures, rather a feeling of impatience and displeasure than of satisfaction or of reverence for the place in which they were.  Here and there murmurs arose expressive of discontent.  The whispering, which I might more properly call open conversation, often interrupted the divine service, and sometimes observations were made which were far from being moderate.  Some would turn their heads aside on purpose to take a bit of chocolate-cake, and biscuits were openly eaten by many who seemed to pay no attention to what was passing.